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Government budget and revenue in Redwood City, California: official figures

Redwood City's city government took in $352.28 million in total revenue in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024, or $4,376 for each of its 80,512 residents (2024 figure in the finance file); per resident that is the 133rd highest of 582 US cities of 50,000 or more with reported figures in the 2024 Census survey.

City government revenue per resident
$4,376
2024
City government spending per resident
$3,922
2024
City long-term debt per resident
$1,841
2024

How much does Redwood City spend and on what?

It spent $315.79 million in the same year, $3,922 per resident, the 157th highest of 582 US cities of 50,000 or more with reported figures in the 2024 Census survey. The largest identified functions were police (17.9%), fire protection (15.0%) and sewerage (13.0%) of the total.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How much tax does Redwood City collect per resident?

Taxes raised $154.63 million ($1,921 per resident, the 80th highest of 582) in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024, 50.9% of general revenue, compared with 49.3% for all US city governments combined in 2022.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

What taxes does Redwood City rely on?

Of Redwood City's tax revenue in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024, property tax made up 45.9%, general sales tax 35.2%, selective sales taxes (on utilities, fuel, alcohol, tobacco, hotels and others) 11.9%. Across all US city governments in 2022, property tax made up 48.1% and general sales tax 19.8%; Redwood City's property tax share is the 222nd lowest of 580 US cities of 50,000 or more with reported figures in the 2024 Census survey.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How much federal and state money does Redwood City get?

Payments from other governments made up 5.5% of Redwood City's city government's general revenue in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024: 1.5% from the federal government ($57 per resident), 3.5% from the state and 0.5% from other local governments. For all US city governments in 2022 the aid share was 24.3%.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How much does Redwood City raise from fees and utilities?

Fees and charges for services such as sewerage, trash, parks and airports brought in $96.78 million, 31.9% of general revenue (all US city governments in 2022: 20.0%). Revenue of government-owned utilities (water, electricity, gas or transit) added $48.43 million.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How much does Redwood City spend on police?

Redwood City's city government spent $56.58 million on police in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024, $703 per resident (the 33rd highest of 582) and 17.9% of its total spending; police took 10.3% of spending across all US city governments in 2022.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How much does Redwood City spend on fire protection?

Fire protection cost $47.42 million, $589 per resident, in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How much debt does Redwood City have?

At the end of the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024, Redwood City's city government owed $148.23 million in long-term debt, $1,841 per resident (the 234th lowest of 582). During the year it issued no new long-term debt and repaid $11.16 million.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How much does Redwood City pay in interest on its debt?

Interest on debt cost $3.26 million in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024, 1.0% of total spending.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How has the Redwood City city budget changed?

Between the Census survey years 2022 and 2024 (not adjusted for inflation), total revenue per resident rose 17.9% from $3,712 to $4,376, spending per resident rose 21.3% to $3,922, taxes per resident rose 11.7% to $1,921.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How Redwood City compares with other cities in the United States

City government total revenue per resident, 2022 (Survey year 2022 (fiscal years ended July 2021 to June 2022))

Redwood City ranks 164 of 731, highest first. City government only: in many cities schools, transit, water or other services are run by separate governments or the county, so totals are not like-for-like. Per resident figures use the population the Census finance file gives each government. Governments whose figures were mostly imputed by the Census Bureau are left out. The government of Washington, DC, also carries out the functions of a state.

RankCityCity government total revenue per resident, 2022
161Mooresville$3,791
162Vineland$3,780
163West Palm Beach$3,774
164Redwood City$3,712
165Goodyear$3,705
166San Diego$3,677
167Orlando$3,670
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

City government total spending per resident, 2022 (Survey year 2022 (fiscal years ended July 2021 to June 2022))

Redwood City ranks 203 of 731, highest first. City government only: in many cities schools, transit, water or other services are run by separate governments or the county, so totals are not like-for-like. Per resident figures use the population the Census finance file gives each government. Governments whose figures were mostly imputed by the Census Bureau are left out. The government of Washington, DC, also carries out the functions of a state.

RankCityCity government total spending per resident, 2022
200Anaheim$3,253
201Fort Myers$3,252
202Bellevue$3,238
203Redwood City$3,233
204Newark$3,212
205Dearborn$3,210
206Albany$3,187
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

City taxes collected per resident, 2022 (Survey year 2022 (fiscal years ended July 2021 to June 2022))

Redwood City ranks 102 of 731, highest first. City government only: in many cities schools, transit, water or other services are run by separate governments or the county, so totals are not like-for-like. Per resident figures use the population the Census finance file gives each government. Governments whose figures were mostly imputed by the Census Bureau are left out. The government of Washington, DC, also carries out the functions of a state.

RankCityCity taxes collected per resident, 2022
99Alameda$1,751
100Olympia$1,736
101Boulder$1,728
102Redwood City$1,720
103Dublin$1,719
104Cupertino$1,711
105Atlanta$1,711
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

City spending on police per resident, 2022 (Survey year 2022 (fiscal years ended July 2021 to June 2022))

Redwood City ranks 50 of 731, highest first. City government only: in many cities schools, transit, water or other services are run by separate governments or the county, so totals are not like-for-like. Per resident figures use the population the Census finance file gives each government. Governments whose figures were mostly imputed by the Census Bureau are left out. The government of Washington, DC, also carries out the functions of a state.

RankCityCity spending on police per resident, 2022
47Berwyn$567
48Newark$567
49Tempe$564
50Redwood City$561
51Delray Beach$561
52West Palm Beach$560
53Cincinnati$551
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

City long-term debt outstanding per resident, end of fiscal 2022 (Survey year 2022 (fiscal years ended July 2021 to June 2022))

Redwood City ranks 365 of 731, highest first. City government only: in many cities schools, transit, water or other services are run by separate governments or the county, so totals are not like-for-like. Per resident figures use the population the Census finance file gives each government. Governments whose figures were mostly imputed by the Census Bureau are left out. The government of Washington, DC, also carries out the functions of a state.

RankCityCity long-term debt outstanding per resident, end of fiscal 2022
362Eugene$1,944
363Fresno$1,943
364Boulder$1,940
365Redwood City$1,931
366Savannah$1,931
367Ocala$1,928
368Murray$1,928
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Property tax as a share of city tax revenue, 2022 (Survey year 2022 (fiscal years ended July 2021 to June 2022))

Redwood City ranks 331 of 730, highest first. City government only: in many cities schools, transit, water or other services are run by separate governments or the county, so totals are not like-for-like. Per resident figures use the population the Census finance file gives each government. Governments whose figures were mostly imputed by the Census Bureau are left out. The government of Washington, DC, also carries out the functions of a state.

RankCityProperty tax as a share of city tax revenue, 2022
328Gresham54.7%
329Killeen54.6%
330Draper54.4%
331Redwood City54.4%
332Fishers54.4%
333Savannah54.3%
334Texas City54.2%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Federal, state and local aid as a share of city general revenue, 2022 (Survey year 2022 (fiscal years ended July 2021 to June 2022))

Redwood City ranks 644 of 730, highest first. City government only: in many cities schools, transit, water or other services are run by separate governments or the county, so totals are not like-for-like. Per resident figures use the population the Census finance file gives each government. Governments whose figures were mostly imputed by the Census Bureau are left out. The government of Washington, DC, also carries out the functions of a state.

RankCityFederal, state and local aid as a share of city general revenue, 2022
641Apex7.9%
642Blaine7.9%
643Weston7.8%
644Redwood City7.8%
645Murrieta7.6%
646Mount Pleasant7.5%
647Westminster7.5%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

City government total revenue per resident, 2024 (Survey year 2024 (fiscal years ended July 2023 to June 2024))

Redwood City ranks 133 of 582, highest first. City government only: in many cities schools, transit, water or other services are run by separate governments or the county, so totals are not like-for-like. Per resident figures use the population the Census finance file gives each government. Governments whose figures were mostly imputed by the Census Bureau are left out. The government of Washington, DC, also carries out the functions of a state.

RankCityCity government total revenue per resident, 2024
130Savannah$4,414
131Dallas$4,400
132New Braunfels$4,381
133Redwood City$4,376
134West Palm Beach$4,374
135Springfield$4,373
136Mishawaka$4,363
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

City government total spending per resident, 2024 (Survey year 2024 (fiscal years ended July 2023 to June 2024))

Redwood City ranks 157 of 582, highest first. City government only: in many cities schools, transit, water or other services are run by separate governments or the county, so totals are not like-for-like. Per resident figures use the population the Census finance file gives each government. Governments whose figures were mostly imputed by the Census Bureau are left out. The government of Washington, DC, also carries out the functions of a state.

RankCityCity government total spending per resident, 2024
154Birmingham$3,960
155Boulder$3,943
156Urban Honolulu$3,935
157Redwood City$3,922
158Owensboro$3,912
159Hollywood$3,907
160Charlotte$3,880
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

City taxes collected per resident, 2024 (Survey year 2024 (fiscal years ended July 2023 to June 2024))

Redwood City ranks 80 of 582, highest first. City government only: in many cities schools, transit, water or other services are run by separate governments or the county, so totals are not like-for-like. Per resident figures use the population the Census finance file gives each government. Governments whose figures were mostly imputed by the Census Bureau are left out. The government of Washington, DC, also carries out the functions of a state.

RankCityCity taxes collected per resident, 2024
77Boulder$2,033
78Cleveland$2,024
79Commerce City$1,940
80Redwood City$1,921
81Burbank$1,916
82Chicopee$1,915
83Miami$1,901
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

City spending on police per resident, 2024 (Survey year 2024 (fiscal years ended July 2023 to June 2024))

Redwood City ranks 33 of 582, highest first. City government only: in many cities schools, transit, water or other services are run by separate governments or the county, so totals are not like-for-like. Per resident figures use the population the Census finance file gives each government. Governments whose figures were mostly imputed by the Census Bureau are left out. The government of Washington, DC, also carries out the functions of a state.

RankCityCity spending on police per resident, 2024
30Baton Rouge$755
31Miami$748
32Delray Beach$707
33Redwood City$703
34Hollywood$702
35Long Beach$700
36Burbank$687
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

City long-term debt outstanding per resident, end of fiscal 2024 (Survey year 2024 (fiscal years ended July 2023 to June 2024))

Redwood City ranks 349 of 582, highest first. City government only: in many cities schools, transit, water or other services are run by separate governments or the county, so totals are not like-for-like. Per resident figures use the population the Census finance file gives each government. Governments whose figures were mostly imputed by the Census Bureau are left out. The government of Washington, DC, also carries out the functions of a state.

RankCityCity long-term debt outstanding per resident, end of fiscal 2024
346Reading$1,853
347Bozeman$1,843
348Warwick$1,843
349Redwood City$1,841
350Fresno$1,839
351St. Louis Park$1,791
352Bellevue$1,779
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Property tax as a share of city tax revenue, 2024 (Survey year 2024 (fiscal years ended July 2023 to June 2024))

Redwood City ranks 359 of 580, highest first. City government only: in many cities schools, transit, water or other services are run by separate governments or the county, so totals are not like-for-like. Per resident figures use the population the Census finance file gives each government. Governments whose figures were mostly imputed by the Census Bureau are left out. The government of Washington, DC, also carries out the functions of a state.

RankCityProperty tax as a share of city tax revenue, 2024
356San Jose46.0%
357Sarasota46.0%
358Alameda46.0%
359Redwood City45.9%
360Santee45.9%
361Miami Beach45.7%
362Largo45.6%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Federal, state and local aid as a share of city general revenue, 2024 (Survey year 2024 (fiscal years ended July 2023 to June 2024))

Redwood City ranks 550 of 582, highest first. City government only: in many cities schools, transit, water or other services are run by separate governments or the county, so totals are not like-for-like. Per resident figures use the population the Census finance file gives each government. Governments whose figures were mostly imputed by the Census Bureau are left out. The government of Washington, DC, also carries out the functions of a state.

RankCityFederal, state and local aid as a share of city general revenue, 2024
547Ames5.7%
548Lake Elsinore5.5%
549Richardson5.5%
550Redwood City5.5%
551St. Louis Park5.3%
552Ontario5.3%
553Kirkland5.2%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

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Sources

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